Machine for finishing fabrics.



No. 727,443. PATENTBD MAY 5, 1903.

M. RATIGNIER & M. OLERG-RENAUD. I MACHINE FOR FINISHING FABRICS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 30, 1901.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEIBTSSHEET 1.

FIQI

WITNESSES.

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I TIDRNEYS No. 727,443. PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

M. RATIGNIER & M. GLERG-RENAUD.

MACHINE FOR FINISHING FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 190;.

no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

IN VEW T 0R3. I ZAMQMJ A TI'OHNEYS F'IGA I N W4??? WIIITNESSES:

N'rrn STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT ()FFICE.

MACHINE FOR FINISHING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 727,443, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed April 30,

To aZZ whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that we, ll/IARIUS RATIGNIER and MARIUs CLERO RENAUD, citizens of France, residing at Nos. 61 and 63 Rue Louis Blane, Lyons, France, have invented a new and useful Machine for Finishing Fabrics, of which the following is a full, clear,-and exact description,and for which we have made application for patent in France, dated February 18, 1901; in Germany, dated March 14, 1901; in Italy, dated March 12, 1901, and in Switzerland, dated March 11, 1901.

Our invention is applicable to the operation in use in the dressing or finishing of fabrics, which consists in producing successivebends or slopes in opposite directions of the threads composing these fabrics, either to establish the parallelism of these threads or to separate them from each other when they have been sized in the dressing operation. The machine which we have made to this purpose is based upon the known princible of the undulating course of the fabric in a horizontal plane. However, while the known machines have the purpose to expand. by degrees the fabric during its course the essential characteristic point of our machine is maintaining the weft-threads parallel to each other and of constant length while the warp-threads are caused to assume successive inclinations in contrary directions. The result is that the tension in width of the fabric, regulated at the beginning of the operation, is maintained constant, and the work is done more regularly and without danger of tearing, even of very light fabrics. 7

We will describe our invention by the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of the machine. Fig. 2- is a vertical section of the nippers conducting the fabric. Fig. 3 is a front view of said nippers,and Fig.4 is an arrangement for opening the nippers.

The machine consists mainlypf two endless chains a b, Fig. 1, each passing around drums c d on vertical axles mounted at the ends of two parallel frames 971.. These chains receive motion at equal speed and in the direction indicated by the arrows by means of gearing acting simultaneously on the two drums c c. The chains to b, the construction of which will be hereinafter described, carry 1901- Serial No. 58,157- (No model.)

along theirentire length small nippers it',very close together, to grip the edges of the fabric. By an arrangement which will be explained these nippers open when passing the drums c and d and are closed by springs during the remainder of their course. The portions of the chains which pass along the interior of the frames are parallel and receive on a portion of their length an undulating direction by passing around a certain number of pulleys m re, placed symmetrically along each frame. Thus it will be understood that if the two edges of a fabric are gripped by the nippers ate e on leaving the drums (1 this fabric will be conducted by the chains, the nippers of which successively grip it at the same points 6 e and will follow the undulations formed by these chains and then their straight part without ceasing to be held. At the end of the machine the nippers by opening at ff release the fabric, which willbe wound up by known means after,if required, having passed through a drying apparatus. The two chains or and b beingparallel and receiving equal speed it will be readily understood that the weft-threads will remain parallel with each other during the entire operation and will constantly preserve the same length and tension. The warp-threads will follow a directionj 75 parallel with the chains a and b and will receive successively in the undulated part difierentinclinations on the weft-threads, so as to produce the desired effect. In the straight part following the pulleys m n the warp-threads become again right angles with regard to the weft-threads, and the obtained effect can be fixed by heat or otherwise.

To regulate the width apart of the chains rt 1) to the width of the fabric, the two frames 9 and it move parallel with each other on carriages r r. The dimensions of these undulations is regulated by causing each pairof pulleys a n to approach or recede from each other, which pulleys for this purpose are mounted on movable carriages s s', operated by screws 8' s, and being able to slide horizontally in the frames 9 and h. The pulleys n can thus move away from or move nearer toward the pulleys m, which remain fixed, giving more or less fullness to the undulations. The drums d d at the point of entry of the fabric and the guide-pulleys p p, following them, are capable of regulation in width apart. To this purpose they are carriedby two frames d d, which can be moved to a small extent transversely on the frames g, h, so as to be able by causing them to approach each other more or less to obtain in passing from the guides p to the pulleys m a widening of the fabric and giving it the desired tension, which will be retained to the outlet of the machine.

The roller Z, from which the fabric is unwound, is mounted on a central pivot 0, enabling the operative to cause it to oscillate in one or other direction to straighten the badly-placed weft-threads and present them regularly at the entrance of the machine.

We will now describe the construction and arrangement of the nippers i 71, which constitute a new and important part of the ma chine. These nippers, Figs. 2 and 3, are carried above the endless chain a by prolongations of the vertical axles magserving as hinges for this chain. The lower jaw u is carried by a piece 0, jointed to the axles :20. The up per jaw '21 is carried by a crank-lever z, jointed to the piece '0. A spring y keeps the nipper normally closed with a pressure sufficient to hold the edge of the fabric i.

It will be seen that the nipper is arranged so that the gripping of the fabric takes place in the vertical plane 1 2, Fig. 2, passing through the axles of articulation a; a: of the chain and nippers. This condition is indispensable in order that the edge of the fabric may follow exactly the axis of the chain in its undulations and that the width of the fabric may be maintained constant.

The combination of the chain a and nippers forms in reality two superposed chains articulated on common axles. The lower chain apasses alone over the different pulleys or drums which guide it. To insure regularity of motion the driving-drums c, Fig. 4, carry teeth 7, gearing with the spaces 6 6,

formed in the chain.

The chain formed by the nippers is in free space, which facilitates inspection and separates the fabric from the parts requiring lubrication.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement employed on the drums c and d to efiect the opening of the nippers. On the prolongation of the shaft 3, carrying the drum 0, for example, is mounted a circular disk 4 at the'height of the arm 5 of the lever z, and of such diameter that it pushes this arm and raises the upper jaw of the nipper. The disk 4, rotating with the drum, exerts no friction on the arm 5, and the motion takes place with all possible smoothness and regularity.

The jointed chains 0. b may be replaced by bands of leather, metal, or other suitable material or by any other flexible transmission means. In this case the nippers would be fixed on these means and arranged as above described, so as to grip the fabric in the vertical plane of flexion of said means.

We would here remark that the invention is not limited to the exact details herein shown and described.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a machine for producing a waving course of a fabric, a pair of endless conductingchains running parallel with each other in a horizontal plane, means forimparting to said chains a sinuous or waving movement, each of said chains comprising a plurality of links with hinge-rods connecting the same, said rods extending upwardly, and clips carried by the upper ends of said rods, substantially as described.

In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of two witnesses.

MARIUS RATIGNIER. MARIUS CLERG-RENAUD. Witnesses:

GASTON JEANNIAUX, THos. N. Bnownn. 

